On November 5, 2024, New York voters made a historic decision to pass an amendment to the state constitution, including the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). This landmark amendment prohibits discrimination based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, and pregnancy outcomes. It also safeguards reproductive autonomy and access to healthcare, addressing the ongoing battle for women’s rights across the nation.
This achievement in New York comes at a time when women’s rights in the United States face significant challenges. The Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has led to a fragmented landscape of state laws on reproductive rights, creating a confusing and often perilous environment for women seeking healthcare. Some states have enacted stringent bans on abortion, while others have moved to protect reproductive rights within their constitutions.
Advocates like Lynn O’Donnell, a retired Yonkers teacher and co-chair of the NYSUT Women’s Committee, play a crucial role in advancing women’s rights. The NYSUT Women’s Committee, established in 2019, has been active in supporting local communities despite initial setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The committee engages in various initiatives, such as collecting old shoes for recycling to fund donations to shelters like My Sister’s Place, which supports victims of domestic assault, and Ann’s Place, a center providing free services to women battling cancer.
The NYSUT Women’s Committee also focuses on empowering women within the union by educating female members about the union’s work and highlighting issues like pay inequality, healthcare, and education. They organize events, educational programs, and participate in community activities to raise awareness and support for women’s rights. Their efforts inspire more local unions to establish their own women’s committees, fostering a broader movement for gender equality.
Women’s political representation in the United States continues to lag behind many other countries, with women holding only 29% of seats in Congress and 32.6% of state legislative seats. This underrepresentation affects policy decisions, with states that have fewer women in power being less likely to support reproductive rights and gender equality measures. The push for the Equal Rights Amendment reflects a broader struggle to enshrine gender equality in the legal framework of the nation.
As the United States navigates these turbulent times, the fight for women’s rights demands sustained effort and vigilant advocacy. The passing of the ERA in New York marks a significant victory, but it also underscores the need for continued action to safeguard and advance the gains made in gender equality. Advocates, policymakers, and communities must work together to ensure that women’s rights are protected and promoted, addressing both the immediate challenges and the long-term goals of the movement.
For anyone who needs help or is looking to give help, please reach out to any of the organizations, the contact information is listed below.
College is the time where most young adults find themselves. But what happens when you completely miss out on those formative years? There’s a rising epidemic that many are too afraid to talk about: loneliness. Campuses, once busy with life and energy, fell silent. Classes moved online, dorms were emptied, and the social fabric of college life unraveled almost overnight. What happens when you have friends in class that you interact with daily and faculty that push you to succeed then are thrusted into a setting where you are responsible for your own success and friendships you make? Today, we will explore the different points of view from professionals in the psychology research field and a student of WCC who has dealt with this epidemic first hand. The academic pressures of college add another layer to this isolation. Balancing coursework, part-time jobs, and extracurricular activities can leave little time for socializing, while fear of rejection or judgment might deter some from reaching out to others. Over time, loneliness can affect mental health, leading to feelings of sadness, anxiety, or even depression, creating a cycle that makes it harder to take the steps needed to overcome isolation.
Dr. Paul Siegal is a professor of psychology at SUNY WCC and an expert in clinical psychology. With years of research and hands-on experience, Dr. Siegal has a unique perspective on how isolation and connection impact young adults, especially in the college years. He dives into the cultural shift an entire generation had to endure. Remote learning often intensified feelings of disconnection, as virtual classrooms lacked the organic, spontaneous interactions that can lead to friendships. Students found themselves spending long hours in isolation, staring at screens, which not only increased feelings of loneliness but also heightened academic stress. The absence of physical separation between work and personal spaces blurred boundaries, making it harder to relax or recharge. It has been scientifically proven that college students are overwhelmingly lonely. Studies done at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences selected students using a simple random sampling method where loneliness was measured using the UCLA Loneliness questionnaire, showed that the magnitude of loneliness was higher among the first-year student group, female students, students with poor economic status, and those who smoked and lived in dormitories.
We also have Christina, a transfer student attending WCC who highlights the impact of the multitude of issues that can contribute to a student becoming lonely. Unlike students who begin their educational journey there, transfer students often find themselves stepping into an environment where social circles are already established, leaving them feeling like outsiders. Like many students, she faced the reality of virtual classes, disrupted routines, and the challenge of staying connected while being apart. As we transition from theory to lived experience, I think it’s important to highlight how personal stories like Christina’s can show the broader trends Dr.Seigal described. Together, these perspectives paint a fuller picture of the loneliness epidemic and the ways we can begin to address it.
The loneliness epidemic among college students is a multifaceted issue that demands attention and action. The pressures of academic achievement, the challenge of forming meaningful relationships, and the lingering effects of the pandemic have all contributed to a growing sense of isolation on campuses. Addressing this issue requires a collaborative effort between colleges, students, and communities. Below are a few resources that can be used to help battle this epidemic.
Jodi Fernandez, Peekskill High School teacher. (Photo credit: Jeffrey Merchan
In many ways, education is one of the greatest social equalizers. No one knows that more than Peekskill High School teacher, Jodi Fernandez.
As a teen, Fernandez knew she was destined for more and used education as a way to escape the harsh realities of her environment.
Years of hard work, sacrifice, and dedication have paid off for Fernandez, as she has now been teaching at Peekskill High School for nearly 18 years.
The well-respected educator is also an author, writer, hip-hop enthusiast, beloved wife and mother, and an inspirational person to many.
From poor and dangerous beginnings to her current state of enlightenment, Fernandez’s story is proof that anyone can become successful regardless of their circumstances.
Growing up, Fernandez was surrounded by drugs from a very early age. “In the early 80’s, it was the height of the crack epidemic. Everybody’s parents, uncles, older brothers, including my older brothers were all addicted to crack cocaine.”
Fernandez’s everyday life in the Bronx was a journey of survival. “We couldn’t go into certain buildings because we could get raped or someone could be shooting.”
Fernandez had a very traumatic upbringing. Being one of five siblings, Fernandez had many responsibilities at a young age. At seven, she recalls having to babysit a three and four year old, taking them to Pre-K before going to second grade. In addition, Fernandez says she endured a lot of pain in the care of her grandmother, who did not love her because of her skin color. “I experienced a lot of abuse growing up, emotionally and verbally, from my grandmother.”
With no family and immediate role models in her life, Fernandez says she looked up to Oprah Winfrey when times got tough in her life. “I was like if she slept on the floor of a shack in Mississippi and made it to where she is – I have no excuses.”
In school, Fernandez was a naturally intelligent scholar. She was enrolled in multiple accelerated classes in middle school. She graduated from Murry Bergtraum High School in 1996.
Like many high school graduates, Fernandez struggled for a while to find her career following graduation. It didn’t help that Fernandez’s options were limited because her family refused to help her pay various college application fees. Eventually, Fernandez settled on Westchester Community College. She did a year there, majoring in Journalism.
Some time after this, Fernandez began considering a career in the fashion industry. She applied and got accepted into Wood Tobe-Coburn, a fashion school in New York City. Unfortunately, Fernandez’s time at this school was very short lived because once again, she lacked support.
“I just couldn’t afford it, and so I literally got kicked out of class one day because I was trying to pay it on my own and at the time, I was 19.”
“I would have been able to stay if my mom would have taken out a parent student loan, but she refused.”
Fernandez did not let these setbacks derail her desire for a better life. After a while, Fernandes was able to get back on track and attended Iona College. She graduated with a bachelors in Communication Arts in 2000. Then, she landed a job with the Food Network.
Everything looked good for Fernandez but something inside of her still felt unfulfilled. Determined to find her calling, Fernandez went on the career hunt once again.
Early years in teaching
After bouncing around from job to job in her early 20’s, Fernandez began to search for a permanent career. When recalling how she got into teaching, Fernandez says it wasn’t something she wanted for herself but rather something that found her.
Ultimately, it was advice from a friend to look into subbing while she searched for the right job, that got Fernandez’s foot in the education door.
“At one point, somebody told me ‘Well, why don’t you just sub? Like you’re smart, just sub until you figure it out.’ And I did.”
The first time Fernandez subbed a class was the moment she knew she wanted to get into teaching.
“I remember subbing this class, I believe it was fifth grade and they wore me out. When I say they wore me out physically – they were just rambunctious. They were giving me all kind of attitude, talking about – is your leather jacket real? They were so mean, but at the end of the day, they were like, are you coming back? And I wanted to come back.”
Once the education bug got implanted inside of her, there was no stopping Fernandez’s goal of becoming a teacher. Following a few years of subbing at multiple schools, mostly in the Bronx and Yonkers, Fernandez returned to Iona. She got her masters in English in 2006.
With her masters in hand, Fernandez went on the job market, in search of a permanent teaching position. She interviewed at multiple schools, including Peekskill, but her interview with Peekskill didn’t go according to plan.
“When I first went to Peekskill, there was black woman who was the superintendent. Her name was Dr. Judith Johnson, and she had offered me a long term sub position, and I declined it.”
Fernandez says she was offered this position because she wasn’t yet certified. After getting her certification, she reapplied for the position several months later, in December 2006, and got it. Fernandez has been teaching at Peekskill High School ever since.
African Diaspora and Hip-Hop Studies
In 2008, Fernandez was assigned to teach an African Diaspora course at Peekskill High School.
However, the class was not what she envisioned an African/African-American centered class would be.
“It was all Martin Luther King, civil rights, and it just started there and sort of ended with the Reagen era and the crack era.”
Dissatisfied with the course material, Fernandez rewrote the course to expand upon the movement of all humans from Africa to places around the world. In 2015, the course became an accredited college course through SUNY Albany’s “University in the High School” program.
Unsurprisingly, Fernandez has faced some obstacles over the years from teaching this course.
“I’ve faced pushback in terms of just students saying that I was flat out wrong, that race did exist. I’ve received pushback from parents saying that I taught too much about race. I’ve experienced pushback from one or two white students over the course of the year that said I was racist because I was talking about racism.”
When asked how she navigates teaching sensitive issues, Fernandez says she strictly presents facts and lets her students take it from there.“ I just present the facts. You really can’t argue with facts. While we can have differences of opinions, the facts are the facts, and everybody’s entitled to their opinion, but you don’t get to negate the fact. You don’t have to like it, you don’t have to even think about it, but it is a fact.”
In recent years, Fernandez says interest in her African Diaspora class has increased drastically.
“I would say since like 2020, with the whole George Floyd thing, I think that it became very in vogue and or trendy to care about race, so numbers ticked up for that reason.”
But for the students who truly are invested in Fernandez’s class, Fernandez says their favorite part of her course is Real Talk Fridays, which is a spin on the traditional socratic seminar where students participate in a student-led seminar with topics exclusively being chosen by students.
In 2018, Fernandez created a yearly dance performance for her African Diaspora students. (Click here to read a profile of this yearly performance.) Within a year, it was one of the most talked about school events and became what Fernandez’s students look forward to the most throughout the year.
Many of Fernandez’s students may be unaware but the roots of this dance are pretty dark. In 2017, Fernandez experienced a horrific incident with a student that was based on race. As a result, she experienced a lot of terrible things like death treats. After taking a few months off, Fernandez began to think about how she could turn her negative experience into a learning one.
“When I came back to school, it was the summer of 2017 [and] 2018 was approaching, and I thought to myself, ‘People need to know this information, what if we use the arts to teach it”.
After directing several performances, including “Black Lives Matter” (2018), Rise Up (2019), and Melanin Magic (2020 & 2021), Fernandez felt like it was time to expand her audience.
Fed up with the lack of support she was receiving from her high school, Fernandez began collaborating with NECS, a local organization in Peekskill. In 2022, thanks to the generosity of NECS who helped Fernandez with financial support and directing services, Fernandez and her students were able to move the yearly dance performance out of the high school. In February of that year, Fernandez held “Diasporic Dreams” at Peekskill Middle School, with crowds of people in attendance.
Fernandez’s work at Peekskill High School goes beyond teaching African Diaspora and English. In 2021, a former student suggested to Fernandez that she bring a hip hop class to Peekskill High School. Unsure at first, Fernandez worked out the logistics of how the class would operate and took the next step a few months later.
“I wrote the proposal. I submitted it and it sat. literally sat in the assistant superintendent’s email for a while,” she said.
Eventually, Fernandez got the chance to present her course to the superintendent and received the green light in 2022. Despite the positive news, Fernandez was not content. She knew her course was college level material, so the following year she submitted it to SUNY Albany and it became an accredited college course.
Fernandez says almost all her students seem to enjoy her course in the two years she’s been teaching Introduction to Hip-Hop Studies.
“They really are into it, because it is a course where I’m teaching the history of the Bronx. I’m teaching the history of really New York City. I’m teaching the immigrant experience as it relates to hip hop, because two of the three of the founders of hip hop are immigrants themselves. I’m teaching so much [and] the students that are taking the college version, they’re really appreciative of all of their learning,”
Outside of School
Outside of school, Fernandez is a devoted wife to her husband Frank and mom to her daughter, Amáris.
Fernandez says she loves being a mom but revealed that becoming a mom was very difficult for her. “Ever since I was nine years old, I said that I would never have kids or be married. But really, the kid thing was really like something that I didn’t want for myself or I felt like I didn’t need for myself because I just saw myself as someone who was brought into this world to suffer.”
Fernandez says that as soon as she found out she was pregnant, she ran to therapy. “I’m so glad that I did, because I figured out my trauma and why I never wanted to have kids.”
Fernandez says what she enjoys the most about being a mom is being able to provide a better life for her kid and being able to develop a strong and independent young woman.
On top of being a teacher and a mother, Fernandez is an author. In 2022, she published a book called “Elevators”, which is available on Amazon.
“The book is my memoir. It chronicles just my journey through everything that I’ve gone through, learning lessons, poor mistakes I’ve made, why I’ve made those mistakes, and also to where I’ve gotten now, which is a place of just light and just being authentic and living a life like on my own terms.”
In June 2024, all the years of hard work and staying true to herself and her beliefs finally paid off for Fernandez, when she received the Educator of Excellence award by NECS.
In 2022, Fernandez publish a memoir called “Elevators”. (Photo credits: Jeffrey Merchan)
Recalling this monumental moment in her life, Fernandez said she never thought she would get an award because she never followed the status quo and did things her way.
Fernandez is grateful for the award but she says the award symbolized something deeper for her. “It was a reminder to me that you could be yourself, you could do all the things the way that you wanted to do them, you could tell the truth and somebody is going to appreciate it.”
As for what’s next for Fernandez, she says she is currently writing her next book. While she loves teaching, Fernandez says she would like to transition out of teaching within the next five years and begin writing more. After 17 and half years of dedicated service to the Peekskill community, it’s fair to say that Fernandez will go down in history as one of the most inspirational teachers to ever teach at Peekskill High School.
Rev. Mr. Paul Smith, Deacon of St. Mary’s Mother of the Church
In the aftermath of the 2024 election, the influence of religion in American politics remains debated, with some questioning its direct impact on voting behavior.
Deacon Paul, a 72-year-old Catholic deacon, reflected on how religion once defined American culture, particularly in the 1950s and ’60s. ” In those 1950s and early 60s religion was so much a part of the culture,” he recalled. “When I grew up, you couldn’t open businesses on Sundays.”
However, as the push for a stronger separation of church and state grew, the influence of religion on politics changed. Deacon Paul notes that while one political party was once seen as being aligned with religious values, both parties now claim religious affiliation in their platforms. “It’s an interesting phenomenon,” he said.
Despite this shift, Deacon Paul emphasized that religious institutions, particularly the Catholic Church, do not dictate voting decisions. “Well, the Church tells you how to vote, no, it doesn’t, it can’t, it won’t”, he explained. “It guides you to vote for what you think is best for others”. This misunderstanding, he believes, leads many Americans to assume that religious organizations are heavily involved in political matters.
As the inauguration of the president-elect nears, the debate continues over the role of religion in politics. Some argue that religious institutions influence political choices, but Deacon Paul and others insist that the Church’s role is to offer moral guidance, not direct political intervention. According to the Deacon religion encourages voters to make choices based on what they believe will benefit society.
Juan Soto, this year’s top Major League Baseball free agent, signed a record-breaking contract in many aspects with the New York Mets. Soto signed on for an average annual base salary of $51 Million spread over the course of 15 years. The grand total of the contract without any incentives comes out to $765 Million, topping the previous record of $700 million being paid to Shohei Ohtani from the Los Angeles Dodgers.
This contract not only breaks the overall contract record for Major League Baseball but is considerably the largest contract in the history of professional sports. His contract makes him the first position player in baseball to average a salary over $50 million per season. Soto also received a $75 million signing bonus for putting his name on the dotted line. His deal also includes a full no trade clause.
Juan Soto being introduced for the first time as a member of the New York Mets. (Via ABC7NY)
In addition, Soto can opt out after five seasons with the Mets in the 2029 offseason. The Mets reserve the right to void this opt out by adding $4 million dollar per year to his contract bringing the average annual value closer to $55 million. If this route were to play out come 2029, Soto would also become the first athlete with a contract total over $800 million. The total value at the end of the 15 years would come out to $805 million.
Many believe that the crosstown rival New York Yankees, Soto’s home for the 2024 season, were the favorites to land this generational talent. However, their final offer came short of the Mets as they extended a 16 year, $760 million contract to Soto. However, many believe reported issues with Yankee Stadium security & the offer to receive a luxury suite in Citi Field for Soto’s family sealed the deal for Steve Cohen & the New York Mets. Nevertheless, all of baseball will have to watch Soto wear the orange and blue possibly for the next fifteen years.
Kalsi Johnson, Director of the Virginia Marx Children’s Center (photo credit: Kalsi Johnson)
At Westchester Community College, student parents are proving that pursuing education while raising children is achievable with the right support. Kalsi Johnson, director of the Virginia Mark’s Children Center, reveals how the center is making it not only possible, but easier for parents to succeed.
After years of expansion, the center caters to children of all ages, from just six weeks to 5.9 years old.
Along with caring for children of various ages, using the center allows students to receive financial assistance to ease their childcare costs. Thanks to specific grants, students can access affordable childcare services, often at no cost.
To access these grants, students must go through the financial aid process, including Pell Grant eligibility. In addition, to support those facing financial challenges, the center collaborates closely with the financial office and student support services to guarantee that all their needs are met. Once eligible, students can access childcare services and financial support to reduce their childcare costs. These requirements help make certain that students receive the support they need to balance education and childcare.
Along with flexible scheduling, the center ensures that students receive additional support, such as access to essentials like diapers, wipes, and transportation assistance.
With an increase in enrollment, the center’s expanded services reflect the growing need for comprehensive childcare support among students.
Through an integrated approach, the center provides not only financial support but also a well-rounded curriculum for children’s development. The center emphasizes all areas of child development, hoping that children are well-prepared for future academic challenges.
Inside one of the classrooms, Where interactive and creative learning takes place ( photo credit: Marwa Elnbrawy)
By partnering with the Early Childhood Education Department on campus, the center provides hands-on learning opportunities for students and high-quality care for children. With its nationally recognized accreditations and five-star rating, the center strives to uphold these high standards, supporting every child’s early development.
QUESTION: “Have you ever just wondered how who provides for the homeless or less fortunate in our society and if there is a place for them to go for food and necessities? Well I know I have and in my article I plan on detailing my every step of a group I interviewed who takes part in caring for these types of programs in my community.”
AUTHOR’S NOTE
The successful completion of this study would not have been possible without the assistance of the Community Service Associates team, and Professor Luther himself who provided the necessary outline for the project. I grasp my information from individuals in my interview. I want to give thanks to everyone that has guided me with this exercise.
STATEMENT OF THE TITLE
What factors make the Community Service Associates great to society and can it be developed more?
RATIONALE
What is Community Service Associates Program? A “Community Service Associates Program” refers to a structured initiative where individuals, often within a company or organization, actively participate in volunteer work or community outreach activities, contributing their time and skills to support local causes and improve the well-being of their community. Here is a link with some information. https://csasoupkitchen.org
Hence, the reason i chose this topic is to determine the various reasons and major factors about the community service associates and how they contribute to the lives of individuals.
METHOD OF INVESTIGATION
The method of investigation is the method that involves choosing a topic of interest, then the creation of questions I came up with for the project. It also involves a call to the Community Service Associates Office in Mount Vernon for a live in-person interview on December 20, 2024 at 12pm to discuss their program for my Multimedia semester project.
INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Based on the data collected from the interview, I can say definitely that the Community Service Associates is a great program for the homeless people and also people who aren’t homeless but in a more less fortunate position. The program is designed to help out a lot and I am so thankful for that. Each and every person is welcome at the center, they serve 90-100 meal per day to individuals. They accept certain donations such as: napkins, utensils and etc.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1) Service Learning Project Guidelines-week 14
2) Interview with Community Service Associates in Mount Vernon
Bonnie Foncello at her Mamaroneck Location (Mark Vergari/The Journal News)
Bonnie Foncello formerly had a career in the marketing world before she made her career switch. Along with the support from her family, Bonnie went back to school at Duck University in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, to learn about the new business she was about to enter. Bonnie’s journey of becoming a franchise owner had its ups and downs. “Not having a clue, not knowing what was going to come first, what to do first, how to build the store, what to look for…,” she stated. However, she wasn’t alone, as the Duck Donuts franchise was with her every step of the way to ensure that Bonnie was prepared for whatever was to come as a Duck Donuts owner. With the training she acquired and her natural-born leadership, Bonnie has ensured that both of her stores in Mamaroneck and White Plains deliver top-quality donuts and customer service.
Bonnie’s marketing skills are still applied in her new career, and she actively applies them to spread the news of both stores to the community. She collaborated with Tony Peck, who runs his own social media company, “He invites us to his events all the time…we meet people, hand out business cards. Other people there are realtors or event planners who might want to collaborate. So all of those different types of networking things and relationship-building events,” she says.
Bonnie Foncello at the White Plains Location (Courtesy of Tania Savayan/The Journal News)
Along with social media, Bonnie finds the importance of establishing personal relationships with both businesses and her local customers. Outside of her stores, Bonnie actively participates with schools and hospitals for various fundraisers and personally attends each one working day until night at these events. She also conducts Girl Scout Troop stores at both locations to show little girls how donuts are made and to learn more about the food industry business. Bonnie isn’t just into this for the money, but for the smiles she can put on her customers’ faces. However, Bonnie says it’s more than just the connections you make with other owners or business people,”… your heart’s got to be in it.. it has to be something that you think you’re going to believe in…” Bonnie says. According to Bonnie, every single step in the journey is all about paying it forward.
A graphic posted to the Westchester Journalism Facebook page when Professor Lee first came on as a full time faculty member. (Courtesy of Westchester Community College.)
As students, hearing a teacher is “new” tends to set off some alarms. Professor Latoya Lee, however, is only new to Westchester Community College, not to teaching as a career. Teaching comes as a second nature to her, as she already has experience in the field she’s teaching about.
The photo Lee posts every new semester when introducing herself to new students. (Courtesy of Latoya Lee.)
Lee has 10+ years of experience in teaching, and is only “new” to WCC, so students may want to take this into account before they let their weariness of a “new” teacher take over. She spent her time before this teaching at Full Sail University, as well as producing for multiple different news outlets. She brings an abundance of experience to the WCC campus.
Although most students will only ever see her when she’s teaching, she does have an eventful life outside of work. During our interview, Lee spoke about her love for the arts, specifically paintings, drawings, and variations of the two. She also has a passion for fashion, even pursuing it in recent years wih her own fashion line.
For more about the WCC Journalism Department, click here.
Being a firefighter is a dangerous job and may not be everyone’s first job choice, but some would say it is a rewarding experience. Retired firefighter Matthew Eberhart, who worked for the FDNY in the South Bronx for twenty years claims the fire department is a great experience. Below Matthew discusses his experience and what it was like working for the FDNY.
Matthew Eberhart, Bronx NY (Photo Credit: FDNY)
The process of becoming a firefighter is simple. First you must apply to take the written exam, once they go through the list and reach your name you will get a call to start your physical exam. If you pass they will schedule you for a background check and a medical examination. If you pass all that, you will get a call whether that is in a couple months or even a couple years whenever there is a need for your service. If you are interested in applying for the FDNY click here for more information.
Engine 92, Ladder 44 in the South Bronx. (Photo Credit: Flickr)
The tragedies on 9/11 claimed the lives of nearly three-thousand people. and still causing damage to lives today. If you would like to support and donate to the heroes of our nation click here for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
vember 5, 2024, New York voters made a historic decision to pass an amendment to the state constitution, including the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). This landmark amendment prohibits discrimination based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, and pregnancy outcomes. It also safeguards reproductive autonomy and access to healthcare, addressing the ongoing battle for women’s rights across the nation.
